A Fish Tale or The Little One That Got Away

Renée B. Meloche is an instructional consultant with the Halton Board
of Education.

In an underwater garden, Small Fry reluctantly participates in dart
school drills. When all of the other fish turn upward at the last
minute, Small Fry takes a nosedive into the sand. The probing questions
that dart across his mind are more interesting to Small Fry than the
physical challenge of darting. A passing fish named Jack gives Small Fry
the opportunity to swim to the edge to look for the hook that will
guarantee that life doesn’t pass him by. Small Fry misses the first
hook, but not the next one. Instantly he regrets ignoring roll lessons
in dart school. Pleas of mercy to the fisherman god prove unnecessary.
As he is thrown up into the air (being too small to fry), the blue-green
sky, the green-blue trees, and the great mystical body of water pass
before Small Fry’s eyes. He now knows the secrets of other worlds. But
whom to tell? Who would believe him?

Yerxa makes interesting use of rhyme and cadence to underscore the
fantasy of the story. Young readers will relate to Small Fry’s
frustration and yearning for something more. The delicate illustrations
reinforce the easy flow of the story. Pastel stencils and drawings
impart a sense of quiet resolution; the visual part of this tale, in the
underwater garden of dreams, is magical. Recommended.